Cable core takeup apparatus

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for reeling heavy cable cores at a taping machine has the reel elevated so that the core is taken up from beneath the reel and is free from reverse bending. The taping machine capstan pays the core onto a horizontal roller stand that supports the lower end of the catenary from the reel.

United States Patent 1 1 3,5593% [72] Inventors Frederic B. Kraflt [56] References Cited Hastings-On-Hudson, N.Y.; UNITED STATES PATENTS [2]] A No 5323: 2,682,997 7/1954 Magnusenetal 242/54x {22] fg N0v27 1968 2,951,657 9/1960 Wallin 242/78.l 2,998,692 9/1961 Garner .1 242/54x [45] Patented Feb. 2, 1971 [73] Assignee Anacondawireandcablecompany 3,103,322 9/1963 Garner 242/86.5

a corporation of Delaware Primary Examiner-Stanley N. Gilreath Assistant Examiner-Werner l-ll Schroeder Att0rneyVictor F. Volk [5 4] CABLE CORE TAKEUP APPARATUS 4 Claims, 1 Drawing Fig.

[52] US. Cl 242/54, ABSTRACT: Apparatus for reeling heavy cable cores at a tap- 57/3, 242/45, 242/86.5 ing machine has the reel elevated so that the core is taken up [51] Int. Cl B65h 75/00 from beneath the reel and is free from reverse bending. The [50] Field of Search... 242/45, 54, taping machine capstan pays the core onto a horizontal roller 67.1,68.7, 75,77, 78,78.l,78.6, 82, 86.5, 158, stand that supports the lower end of the catenary from the 158.ll58.5;57/3,6,9,13,14,15,16,17, l8 reel.

A IA

PATENTED FEB 2 IQYI CABLE CORE TAKEUP APPARATUS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In the manufacture of extra-high voltage cables it is usual to form a cable core on a horizontal taping machine where a thick insulating wall is formed by winding a large plurality of layers of insulating tape around an electrical conductor strand. The core is advanced through the taping machine at an accurately maintained constant speed by means of a capstan and is taken up on a reel for impregnating with oil, sheathing and/or other further processing steps. As the number of layers of tapes is increased to handle higher voltages, such as voltages of 500,000, the method of handling the core from the taping machine becomes very critical since any creases that form in the taped insulation may be a cause of future cable failure due to a concentration of electrical stress at any points of irregularity. Prior art means of avoiding such creases have included means for maintaining the top layer of the cable being wound on the takeup reel at the level of the taping machine, by lowering the reel stepwise as each layer of core on the reel is formed. It is known to support the core on a conveyor between the capstan and the reel but in this case the straight ramlike core transmits back to the taping machine the irregularities that are inevitable in the reel takeup speed due to the stepwise nature of the accumulation of layers on the reel. All other reeling methods known to the present applicants, induce reverse bending of the cable core due to the sag or catenary that forms in the cable between the capstan and the reel. It is inevitable that cable being taken up on a reel must bend around the reel drum, but we have found it is extremely advantageous to avoid any reverse bending, that is, bending that will form a curvature in another direction in the core from that which it will assume around the cable reel drum.

SUMMARY We have invented takeup apparatus for heavy cable-cores leaving a horizontal taping machine comprising capstan means for the core downstream of the machine and horizontal low friction support means for the core, such as a plurality of rollers substantially at the level of the passage of the core through the machine, positioned downstream of the capstan means. Our apparatus also comprises means mounting a large diameter takeup reel on a horizontal axis at a station substantially elevated above the level of passage of the core and means rotating the reel so that its lower portion moves in the direction of advance of the core thereby winding up core that passes beneath the reel with the core suspended in a free catenary from the reel to variable points on the low friction sup port means. Our apparatus will preferably comprise sensing means for the position of the catenary and means controlling the speed of the reel rotating means in response to this sensing means. Preferably also the mounting means for the reel is supported so that it can be moved along the axis of the reel,

By means of our invention, we propose to avoid reverse bending of heavy cable cores being taken up on a reel.

By means of our invention we further propose to reduce the incidence of creases in the tapes of high voltage cable cores.

By means of our invention we further propose to accommodate variations in takeup tension without damage to heavy cable cores by means of slack in the core.

Further advantages of our invention will become evident from a study of the following detailed description.

A more thorough understanding of our invention can be ob tained by reference to the appended drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The FIGURE shows a side view of the apparatus of our invention.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In the FIGURE a conductor 11 paid from a reel 12 is advanced through a taping machine of conventional construction indicated generally by the numeral 13 wherein a large plurality of tapes 14 are applied from pads 16 which are carried on spindles that rotate around the horizontal line of advance of the conductor 11. The conductor 11 and plurality of layers of the tape 14 comprise a cable core 17, which is urged forward by a caterpillar capstan 18 in a known manner. It is important that the axis of advance of the conductor 11 should form a straight line during the taping operation and this line is at some level h that allows for the rotation of the tape pads below the core 17. The capstan 18 is mounted so as to continue the straight line advance of the core at the level h. It is important to understand, in this regard, that if the cable core were bent in order to reach a different level the tapes on the inside radius of such a bend would be compressed edgewise and wrinkled or creased and the tapes on the outside would be spread apart in such a manner that they would be in danger of creasing when the core was straightened out again. Our invention has particular application where the tapes 14 are paper and where the core 17 is intended to be impregnated with insulating oil, for in their dry, unimpregnated state the coefficient of friction of the wrapped tapes upon each other is sufficiently high to keep them from sliding readily upon each other. For this reason, they will crease when the core is bent. After the core has been oil-impregnated the tapes slide upon each other much more freely and the cable can be bent on a smaller radius without being damaged. Oil impregnation of the core is usually accomplished by immersing an entire reel 19 in a tank of oil. In the apparatus of our invention, the reel 19 is mounted on a car 20 with rolls 20,22 on which the flanges 23 of the reel 19 are rotatably supported. It is important to our invention that the reel 19 is so mounted that the outmost layer of the core 17 that is wound upon it is substantially higher in elevation than the level h of the winding operation. It is important, also, to our invention that the core 17 pays beneath the reel 19 to be taken up on the far, downstream side of the reel. Thus, when the core is wound on the reel its curvature retains the same sense or direction as the curvature of a catenary 24 between the reel 19 and a point 26 on a line of rollers 27-27 that support the core in line with the taping machine 13 and that the rollers should extend for a distance sufficient to accommodate any changes in tension that will change the shape of the catenary 24. Thus if the tension is decreased the catenary will contact the rollers at a point 28 downstream of the point 26 and if the tension is increased the contact point will move upstream to a point 29. Although we have preferred to use the rollers 27 it will be understood that other low friction supporting means such as an endless belt or highly polished or slippery surface might be used within the scope of our invention as the lower termination of the catenary 24.

The capstan 18 is precisely synchronized by suitable gears or other known means with the rotation of the tape pads 16 to assure the proper spacing of the tape but the speed of rotation of the reel 19 is reduced as the reel fills up to accommodate the increasing radius of the winding layer. The motive power for turning the reel 23 is supplied to the roll 22 by a motor 31 through a belt 32 on the car 20. To take up the core from beneath the reel the rotation of the reel must be such that its lower portion moves in the direction of advance of the core. This will appear counterclockwise in the view of the drawing. The speed of the motor 31 is regulated in a known manner from a sensing rider 33 pivoted to ride on the catenary 24 and speed up the motor when the catenary drops and slow it down when the catenary rises. The car 20 rides on rails 34-34 so that as a layer of core accumulates on the reel 19 the car can be moved across the line of advance of the core to eliminate the need for any lateral deflection of the core 17 when it leaves the capstan 18.

We claim:

I. Takeup apparatus for a heavy cable core leaving a horizontal taping machine comprising:

A. capstan means for said core downstream of said machine;

B. horizontal low friction support means for said core substantially at the level of the passage of said core through said machine. downstream of said capstan means;

C. means mounting a large diameter takeup reel on a horizontal axis at a station such that the point of tangential contact between said core and said reel is elevated substantially above said level; and

D. means rotating said reel with its lower portion moving in the direction of advance of said core thereby winding up core passing beneath said reel, said core being suspended in a free catenary from said reel to variable points on said support means.

2. Takeup apparatus for a heavy cable core leaving a horizontal taping machine comprising:

A. capstan means for said core downstream of said machine;

B. horizontal low friction support means for said core substantially at the level of the passage of said core through said machine, downstream of said capstan means;

C. means mounting a large diameter takeup reel on a horizontal axis at a station elevated substantially above said level;

D. means rotating said reel with itslower portion moving in the direction of advance of said core thereby winding up core passing beneath said reel, said core being suspended in a free catenary from said reel to variable points on said support means; i

E. sensing means for the position of said catenary; and

F. means controllingthe speed of said reel rotating means in response to said sensing means.

3. Theapparatus of claim 1 comprising means supporting said mounting means forhorizontal movement along the axis of said reel.

4. The apparatus of claim 2 comprising means supporting said mounting means for horizontal movement along the axis of said reel. 

1. Takeup apparatus for a heavy cable core leaving a horizontal taping machine comprising: A. capstan means for said core downstream of said machine; B. horizontal low friction support means for said core substantially at the level of the passage of said core through said machine, downstream of said capstan means; C. means mounting a large diameter takeup reel on a horizontal axis at a station such that the point of tangential contact between said core and said reel is elevated substantially above said level; and D. means rotating said reel with its lower portion moving in the direction of advance of said core thereby winding up core passing beneath said reel, said core being suspended in a free catenary from said reel to variable points on said support means.
 2. Takeup apparatus for a heavy cable core leaving a horizontal taping machine comprising: A. capstan means for said core downstream of said machine; B. horizontal low friction support means for said core substantially at the level of the passage of said core through said machine, downstream of said capstan means; C. means mounting a large diameter takeup reel on a horizontal axis at a station elevated substantially above said level; D. means rotating said reel with its lower portion moving in the direction of advance of said core thereby winding up core passing beneath said reel, said core being suspended in a free catenary from said reel to variable points on said support means; E. sensing means for the position of said catenary; and F. means controlling the speed of said reel rotating means in response to said sensing means.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1 comprising means supporting said mounting means for horizontal movement along the axis of said reel.
 4. The apparatus of claim 2 comprising means supporting said mounting means for horizontal movement along the axis of said reel. 